Essential Russia

Days

8

Price from

FR2,000CHF

From Moscow to St Petersburg, delve into the history and culture of Russia

This is the perfect tour of Russia's glorious past. Surround yourself with culture, history and breathtaking architecture and get beneath the surface of a country that for so long guarded their treasures from the west.

Essential Russia

From Moscow to St Petersburg, delve into the history and culture of Russia

This is the perfect tour of Russia's glorious past. Surround yourself with culture, history and breathtaking architecture and get beneath the surface of a country that for so long guarded their treasures from the west.

Gallery

Itinerary

Zdrastvutye! Welcome to Russia. The great city of Moscow has survived centuries of revolution and tumult, from the days of the tsars through the communist era to the growing pains of democracy. Beneath its modern veneer – a sign of Russia's recent embrace of capitalism – Moscow is a fascinating, historic city with a wealth of sights to see. There’s so much to see and do in Moscow, and you’ll have plenty of time to explore on Day 4. You will be collected from the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a Welcome Meeting at 6 pm today, where your insurance and next of kin details will be collected. Please also have two copies of your passport, visa and migration cards ready. Your leader will collect one; the other is for you to keep on you at all times whilst on the trip. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where the meeting will take place – if you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. After the meeting, your leader will organise an optional meal so you can enjoy your first taste of delicious Russian cuisine with new friends.

Notes: Your hotel in Moscow is the 4 star rated boutique Marco Polo Presnja, built in 1904 and retaining its grand sense of history. Facilities include free WiFi and safe boxes, with paid services including a mini-bar, laundry service, taxi ordering and theatre ticket booking. Marco Polo Presnja is located approximately 10 minutes walk from the central Tverskaya/Pushkinskaya Metro Station and around 30 minutes on foot from Red Square.

Accommodation

Marco Polo Presnja Hotel or similar (1 night)

Optional Activities

Moscow - Victory Park Museum - RUB250

Moscow - Tretyakov Art Gallery - RUB400

Moscow - St Basils Cathedral - RUB350

Moscow - Moscow Underground Urban Adventure - EUR38

Moscow - Moscow Behind the Icons Urban Adventure - EUR38

Moscow - Modern Moscow Urban Adventure - EUR38

Moscow - Gorky Park - Free

Moscow - Bolshoi Theatre - RUB4000

Moscow - River Cruise - RUB700

Moscow - Pushkin Art Museum - RUB300

Moscow - Izmailovo Vernisazh Markets - RUB10

Meals Included

Transfer to the train station and take the Sapsan ("Peregrine Falcon") high-speed train to Vladimir. These trains reach up to 250km/h, with the journey taking just under two hours. You will need to be able to carry your own bags through the train station and onto the train. From there you will transfer by private minivan to Suzdal (approximately 30 minutes). The town is a main stop on Russia’s legendary Golden Ring, the circle of ancient and former capitals that played an important part in the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church and hold the memories of significant events in Russian history. The fairytale-feel historic small town of Suzdal is filled with contrasting examples of early Russian architecture, where onion-domed monasteries stand next to decorative little wooden cottages. Here there are opportunities to drink mead by the riverside with a symphony of cathedral bells in the air, and peek inside the crumbling churches that line the narrow streets and alleys. Tonight you’ll make new friends down one of the city’s quiet streets when you share a meal of hearty regional flavours with locals.

Accommodation

Pushkarskaya Sloboda Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Suzdal - Russian Dinner & Traditional Pastry Baking

Optional Activities

Suzdal - River Cruise (Commentary in Russian only) - RUB350

Suzdal - Mead Tasting - RUB270

Suzdal - Belfry Climb - RUB100

Meals Included

Get to know the Suzdal a little better today with a walking tour of this ‘open-air museum’, where old buildings and churches sprout like mushrooms. Take in the sights – the grandeur of the Kremlin, the carved stonework of the Cathedral of the Nativity, the trading square, market and monasteries (approximately 3 hours). Afterwards perhaps explore the museums housed in the Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery, just as impressive as Moscow’s Kremlin and somewhere that hours can be spent. Otherwise, maybe walk along the banks of the river, spanned by wooden footbridges, where elderly local women wash clothes in the water, and then pop in to a local cafe for tea, bliny (pancakes) with caviar or the Suzdal specialty of medovukha, a honey-based spiced mead. You will leave Suzdal in the afternoon and return to Moscow by train, arriving at approximately 8pm (expect approximately 3 hours total travel time back to Moscow).

Accommodation

Marco Polo Presnja Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Suzdal - Guided Walking Tour

Meals Included

Today, with a local guide by your side, enter cobbled Red Square, surrounded by the brightly coloured domes of St Basil’s Cathedral, the opulent GUM Department store, the fairy-tale building of the State Historical Museum, and the imposing walls of the Kremlin. From the days of Ivan the Terrible to the military parades of the Cold War, the square has long been at the heart of Russian history. You have the option of travelling by Metro (1 station, plus approximately 10 minutes walk to and from the station) or on foot (approximately 30 minutes walk), which takes you through interesting historic streets. Enter the Kremlin grounds, home to the oldest and most important churches in the country, and the tombs of Tsars and Tsarinas. Walk through the soaring towers and cathedrals of the political and spiritual heart of Russia before entering the Armoury Museum, home to an eye-bulging former royal collection of Faberge eggs, coronation robes and glittering jewels. This afternoon is a free for you to explore the city’s wonders. Perhaps take the metro to see elaborately decorated stations unlike any other – the fascinatingly decorated 'Palaces of the People'. Otherwise you might relive the nation's turbulent past at Victory Park, travel back to the beginnings of Russian art at the Tretyakov Gallery, or pick up some souvenirs at the Izmailovo Markets. Maybe step inside the colourful St Basil's Cathedral on Red Square. Legend has it that tsar, Ivan the Terrible, had the two architects blinded so that they couldn't build anything as beautiful.

Notes: On occasion Lenin's Mausoleum and Red Square may be closed to the public during regular opening hours without prior warning. As Moscow's premier tourist attractions, tickets for the Kremlin and Armoury are in high demand, and the Moscow Tourism Administration sets strict quotas to control visitor numbers. Time in each area is also limited to 90 minutes, with any exceptions possibly resulting in the guide losing their license. We ask for your understanding that the guide is under pressure to keep to the schedule. The Diamond Fund isn't included in your tour, but after the Kremlin and Armoury there may be time to visit. Entrance tickets can be purchased in the ticket office at the Armoury. The Diamond Fund is open for visitors from 10am-1pm and from 2pm-4pm. Thursday it is closed. Please talk to your leader at the Group Meeting if you are interested in this option. The metro is the easiest way to get around the city as taxis can be expensive, although do be warned it can be very busy during peak times. There are escalators in combination with stairs and tunnels, so using the Metro does still involve a lot of walking. It's not too difficult to navigate once you get the hang of it and many of the stations are sights in themselves. Your leader can give you an orientation to help you make the most of the Metro.

Accommodation

Marco Polo Presnja Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Moscow - Kremlin & Armoury Guided Tour

Meals Included

Before leaving Moscow today, visit the Mausoleum of Russia’s most famous revolutionary – Lenin. The initiator of the 1917 Russian revolution that ushered in the era of communism, you will join the sometimes long queue lining up to visit his austere eternal resting place on Red Square. Then you will board the high speed Sapsan once again to race through the Russian countryside to the one of Russia’s most celebrated cities (approximately 4 hours). Arrive in the beautiful centre of former imperial capital St Petersburg, where your private transfer will take you to your hotel. Accommodation here is the impressive Domina Prestige Hotel, located right on the Moika Embankment, one of the city's main canals. Each room is individually decorated with bright, colourful, modern art interiors. A living museum, St Petersburg is a blend of baroque European architecture and Russian royal history, built by the Russian tsar Peter the Great, whose legacy can be felt in its enigmatic streets and showcase cathedrals and museums.

Accommodation

Domina Prestige Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Moscow - Lenin's Mausoleum

Optional Activities

St Petersburg - Catherine Palace Pushkin - RUB400

St Petersburg - Pushkin Park - RUB120

St Petersburg - Russia Model Museum - RUB450

St Petersburg - Peterhof Big Palace (Summer Palace) - RUB550

St Petersburg - Erarta Modern Art Museum - RUB500

St Petersburg - Kazan Cathedral - Free

St Petersburg - Mariinsky Theatre Perfomance - RUB4000

St Petersburg - St Petersburg like a Local Urban Adventure - USD63

St Petersburg - Peter's Walking Tour (4-5 hours) - RUB1400

St Petersburg - Matryoshka Painting Workshop - RUB1200

St Petersburg - St Petersburg Discovery Urban Adventure - USD52

St Petersburg - Russian Art Museum - RUB450

St Petersburg - Saint Isaac’s Cathedral - RUB400

St Petersburg - Saint Isaac’s Cathedral Colonnade - RUB400

St Petersburg - Boat Trip - RUB600

St Petersburg - Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood - RUB250

Meals Included

St Petersburg is truly one of Europe’s, and the world’s, finest cities. Take the day to explore this beautiful city brimming with historic centres. Today you will explore one of Russia’s most spectacular sights – the stunning Hermitage museum. One of the largest and oldest museums in the world, it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and houses one of the world's premier art collections. Your tour will begin around 10am and continue until around 2pm, however you are then of course free to continue any independent exploration. The Hermitage boasts over 2.7 million exhibits and displays a diverse range of art and artefacts from all over the world and throughout history (from Ancient Egypt to the early 20th century Europe). The collection includes works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian, a unique collection of Rembrandts and Rubens, many French Impressionist works and several sculptures by Rodin. Expert have calculated that, if you watch each item for no longer than a minute and spend 8 hours in the Hermitage daily, it will still take you almost 15 years to view all the museum’s exhibits. If you have time then you can stroll through the perfectly preserved Winter Palace ballroom and throne room. Perhaps take a boat to see landmarks from a Neva river cruise, browse the Udelnaya flea market or climb the belfry of Smolny Cathedral for a rare high view of the city. Then of course there are the world class performances at the Mariinsky and Bolshoi theatres.

Notes: Remember to reserve a concert of performance in advance by booking the tickets online. Some useful Internet sites for ballet, opera, exhibitions etc. in Moscow and St Petersburg are www.mariinsky.ru, www.bolshoi.ru and www.ticketsofrussia.ru. In particular we recommend you see what's playing at the Bolshoi and Mariinsky, as it may be difficult to get tickets when you are there, especially during White Nights in St Petersburg.

Accommodation

Domina Prestige Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

St Petersburg - Hermitage Museum

Meals Included

This morning you travel a short distance out of the city (40 minutes by hydrofoil) to uncover the opulence of the stunning Summer Palace and Park of Peter the Great, known as Peterhof or Petrodvorets. The tsar was heavily influenced by European styles and customs and so the place is roughly modelled on Versailles. Built to impress on guests the ruler’s wealth and taste, the grounds of the park are filled with fountains, cascades and landscaped gardens, and the location right on the Gulf of Finland makes for beautiful views. The palaces (of which there are three – Great Peterhof Palace, Marly Palace and Monplaisir Palace) are fascinating not only for the elaborate halls and galleries, but also for the fact that they have been so accurately restored after being almost completely destroyed during Nazi occupation in World War II. Return to St Petersburg at 2pm, and use any free time to visit the last minute sites you might have missed. Tonight is your final night with your new travel companions, and so your leader will organise an optional farewell dinner at one of the city's great restaurants.

Notes: Please note that your tour includes entrance to the main park, but does not include entry into the Palace. If you would like to remain at the Summer Palace you will need to make your own way back to St Petersburg. Some optional sights in the park may attract additional entrance fees.

Accommodation

Domina Prestige Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

St Petersburg - Peterhof Park & Fountains

Meals Included

Your Russian adventure will come to an end today after breakfast. There are no activities planned and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time. An airport transfer is not included, however your leader or hotel staff can help you book a taxi for your flight. St Petersburg has much to offer, so we recommend that those that wish to see more extend their stay a day or two.

Meals Included

Breakfast

Included Activities

Meals

7 breakfasts,
1 dinner

Transport

Boat,
Private Vehicle,
Taxi,
Train (bullet)

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights)

Included Activities

Suzdal - Russian Dinner & Traditional Pastry Baking

Suzdal - Guided Walking Tour

Moscow - Kremlin & Armoury Guided Tour

Moscow - Lenin's Mausoleum

St Petersburg - Hermitage Museum

St Petersburg - Peterhof Park & Fountains

Meals

7 breakfasts,
1 dinner

Transport

Boat,
Private Vehicle,
Taxi,
Train (bullet)

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights)

Included Activities

Suzdal - Russian Dinner & Traditional Pastry Baking

Suzdal - Guided Walking Tour

Moscow - Kremlin & Armoury Guided Tour

Moscow - Lenin's Mausoleum

St Petersburg - Hermitage Museum

St Petersburg - Peterhof Park & Fountains

Days

8

Price from

FR2,000CHF

From Moscow to St Petersburg, delve into the history and culture of Russia

This is the perfect tour of Russia's glorious past. Surround yourself with culture, history and breathtaking architecture and get beneath the surface of a country that for so long guarded their treasures from the west.

Reviews

BOWMAN NICOLA

GREAT SHORT TRIP THAT GIVES YOU A TASTE OF RUSSIA. LOCAL GUIDES ARE FANTASTIC AND SO KNOWLEDGABLE ABOUT THEIR HISTORY. ONLY SHORT TRAIN TRIPS AND BUS RIDES SO NO WASTED TIME. FREE TIME FOR SHOPPING OR VISITING PLACES NOT ALREADY INCLUDED ON THE TOUR.

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Dates & availability

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Important notes

1. A Single Supplement is available on this trip.
2. Please note in order for our local operator to book train tickets in Russia, we require the following information at time of booking or no later than 60 days prior to departure.
• Passengers full name (First and Last)
• Full Passport Details (number, expiry, issued)
• DOB
• City of Birth
3. Gratuities included for the essential services only that you will receive as part of your tour package. Please see our Tipping section of these trip notes for more information.
4. An arrival transfer is included.
5. In the case of a genuine crisis or emergency, Peregrine's St Petersburg Office can be reached on Tel: +7 911 7033155
6. Please also make sure you have access to an additional US$500, to be used when unforeseen incidents or circumstances outside our control (eg. a natural disaster, civil unrest or an outbreak of bird flu) necessitate a change to our planned route.
7. To avoid disappointment we recommend that you book any theatre performances that you wish to attend in Moscow or St Petersburg in advance. Please consider carefully which performances you are going to want attend and make sure that the dates correspond to your trip. Here are some useful internet sites to check for what will be on (ballet, opera, exhibitions, etc) in Moscow and St Petersburg when you are there: www.mariinsky.ru, www.bolshoi.ru and www.ticketsofrussia.ru. In particular we recommend you see what's playing at the Bolshoi and Mariinsky, as it may be difficult to get tickets when you are there especially during White Nights in St Petersburg.

Essential Trip Information

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